South Africa has processed more than 15,000 Malawian nationals to exit the country ahead of next week’s anti-immigration marches that many fear could turn violent, the justice minister said Friday, with thousands more awaiting clearance in makeshift encampments.
Citizen-led groups have issued an unofficial June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country and called nationwide marches, raising fears of renewed xenophobic violence.
“To date, a total of 15,162 Malawian nationals have been processed for deportation and repatriation, and more are still undergoing the verification process,” said Minister of Justice Mmamoloko Kubayi.
Living conditions in parts of southeastern KwaZulu-Natal province, where Malawians had gathered for weeks, had become “untenable”, she said.
Growing security fears after businesses were looted and foreigners targeted have forced several countries, including Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to offer voluntary repatriations for their nationals.
South Africa’s Border
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